Pneumatic-cylinder machine



1930- H. J. REED E! AL PNEUMATIC CYLINDER MACHINE Filed June 4, 192 3Sheets-Sheet 1 qfoml, Zys.

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H. J. REED ET AL PNEUMAT I C CYLINDER MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FiledJune 4. 192' lnvewioims:

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by 7 v Patented Feb. 25, 1930 PNEUMATIC-CYLINDER MACHINE Applicationfiled June 4, 1827. Serial No. 196,621.

This invention relates to pneumatic cylinder machines intended for theextraction of liquid or moisture from material carried by the surface ofthe cylinder and consists in 6 improvements designed to render suchmachines more tion. 4

While the invention has application to various other arts and useswhereit may be eflicient and simpler in construcdesired to extractliquid from material in a tended for use as 0 cylinder,

more or less saturated condition or to subject material .to filtration,the invention is herein shown for purposes of illustration as embodiedin a pneumatic suction cylinder ina pneumatic decker or'saveall toremove water from pulp in paper manufacture where the pulp, supplied toa tank in a state of liquid suspension, is picked up in the form of asheet by a partly submerged the water partly extracted therefrom and thesheet thereafter removed from the surface of the cylinder.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the followingdescription when taken in connection with the accompanying illustrationof one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be moreparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal sectional elevation showing a pneumaticcylinder machine embodyin'g one form of the invention;

ig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine illustratedin Fig. 1 lookingfrom the driving.

end thereof; I

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the driving end of the machine showing theexposed valve and the seat; a

Fig. 4 is a sideelevation of the distributing va ve; Fig. 5 is asectional elevation taken through the cylinder and drum head on the line5-5 in Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow there indicated; h

Fig. 6 is a detail, on a larger scale, in cross sectional elevationtaken on the line 66 in Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the-arrowthere indicated and showing the relation of compartment partitionsthereat; and

end of the device for pressing it to its Fig. 7 is a sectionalelevation, also on a larger scale, taken on the sectional line 77 in ig.1 near the opposite end of the compartment and looking in the directionof the arrow indicated in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings and to the illustrative embodiment of theinvention therein shown, the cylinder, which is designated generally bythe numeral 11, is mounted in suitable journal bearings 13 to rotatewithin the tank 14 to which the pulp is supplied in any suitable manner,as through an inlet 15 in the side walls of the tank. The stock issupplied in suflicient quantity to maintain the cylinder submerged to apoint which may be indicated, merely by way of example, by the dottedline shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The cylinder is provided with a foraminousor porous surface, and the particles of fibre which tend to rise towardthe top of the tank are picked up by the cylinder in its rotation, and,aided by a suction which is applied to successive compartments withinthecylinder, the stock is carried upward in the shape of a web or sheetformed on the surface of the drum and at the same time a substantialmeasure of its moisture of liquid content is extracted. At some point inthe rotation of the drum,the sheet, after being lifted from the liquid,is removed from the cylinder, its removal being assisted if desired bymeans of a doctor 16. To withdraw the waste water from the tank there isprovided at the side of the tank an overflow trough or box 17 with asloping bottom to which the waste water passes over a gate 18, the wastewater being conducted away from the machine through the trough. Thesupply entering the tank through the inlet 15 is deflected downwardstoward the opposite side of the tank by the deflecting plate 19, andthence upwards by the oppositely arranged deflecting plate 20.

Referring to the cylinder, the latter is provided at opposite ends withhollou journals 21 and 23, the latter carrying the worm gear 25 throughivhich a relatively slow rotation is imparted to the cylinder by meansof the -of radially arranged partition walls 39 there is provided asmaller flanged plate 37 connected to the end plate 35. by a sezies seeFigs. 1 and 5) and constituting an inner head for the drum. To stiffenthe structure, the end plate 33 is secured to the flanged plate 37 byone or more stiffening rods 41 and by the axial shaft 43 secured to theopposed hubs of the two end plates.

To control the application of fluid pressure or suction, as the case maybe, to the various radially arranged compartments in the drum head, asleeved valve-seat 4:5 is provided which fits the hollow journal 23 andprotrudes into the drum head. The

protruding portion of the sleeve is provided with circumferentiallyarranged ports 47 registering respectively with the bottoms of the saidcompartments, so that the protruding end of the sleeve forms a portedbottom wall for the various compartments of the drum head. The sleeve 45has a closed inner end 49 which seats in a recess in the flanged plate37, the sleeve being secured to the hollow journal to turn with thecylinder and the drum head.

Near their outer ends the radially arranged compartments communicateeach with a longitudinally arranged compartment 51, the latter beingrelatively shallow and extending lengthwise the cylinder and the severallongitudinal compartments being arranged ina series circumferentiallyabout the periphery of the cylinder and localized near the peripherythereof.

These compartments, the construction of which is best seen from Figs. 1,5, 6 and 7, are formed by the bottom plates 53 which are connected atone end of the shoulder 55 on the end plate 33 and at the opposite endto the edge of the flanged plate 37, the plates 53 sloping slightlytoward the drum head so that each compartment has a gradually increasingdepth in that direction. The sides of the compartments are formed by theradially arranged plates 57 which are secured (Fig. 6)

at one end to small lugs 59 on the end plate 35 and also to thepartition'walls 39. At the opposite end they are secured (Fig. 7) tosmall lugs 61 on the end plate 33. At their outer ends the plates 57 arebent to incline in the direction of rotation of the drum to form theinclined sides'63, the sides 63 being secured tosmall lugs 65 on the endplate 35 and to similar lugs 67 on the end plate 33. The dividing sidewalls between the successive compartments are carried to the outersurface of the cylinder by means ofthe plates.

69 overlapping the plates 63 outer edges bent to extend radially outwardsubstantially flush with the surface of the cylinder.

The surface of the cylinder is built up on a framework comprising aseries of fiat, circumferentially arranged rings 71, the plates 69 and63 being grooved to receive the rings, and on the outer. notchedperiphery of the rings there are laid a series of rods 73 extendinglengthwise the cylinder. The cylinder frame as thus formed may be woundspirally with wire 7 5 and the porous or foraminous covering of thecylinder, which may consist of wire screen cloth, is laid on thefoundation thus formed. This method of forming the outer foraminoussurface of the cylinder is one commonly followed in the case of deckersor save-alls, but the porous or foraminous surface of the cylinder maybe constructed in any other way desired and may be varied both as tomaterial and construction to suit the particular purpose to which themachine is to be put.

'As thus formed, the cylinder is provided with interiorly partitionedcompartments isolated from each other in a pressure fluid and havingtheir sense, arranged circumferentially about the cylinder and coveredby the foraminous surface thereof. These longitudinally extendshallow,while the radially arranged compartments with which they respectivelycommunicate are localized at the end of the cylinder, so that the liquidwhich is extracted from the material on the surface of the cylinderafter being drawn into the inner compartments is caused to travel in asubstantial- 1y right angled path, first toward the end'of the cylinder,and thence radially inward toward the axis of the drum head.

In connection with the valve hereinafter described, this avoids the useof deckles and provides a simple construction assuring absence ofleakage. It also provides a compartment of relatively small cubicalcapacity, so

that a pressure or vacuum can be quickly built up without the consequentlag, inaction and waste of energy which ordinarily accompany the rapidchange or reversal of pressure condition in successive compartments ofthe rotating cylinder where compartments of relatively large cubicalcapacity are employed. The compactness of the compartments and theirconver ing relation in the drum head also permit the use of a relativelysmall compact valve, reducing the cost of construction and providingamechanically simplified arrangement.

In the operation of the machine provision is had whereby'thecompartments immediately adjacent to the cylinder surface which is beingfirst'submerged are connected to a special suction conduit which isseparate from the suction conduit used to take away the principal wasteliquid. The portion of the cylinder where it first dips beneath thestock comes in contact with liquid richly charged with the fibre and asubstantial percentage of useful fibre is apt to pass through thecylinder with the waste water. By employing a separate suction. conduitto be connected with the compartments successively passing through thisphase of the cylinders rotation, this liquid may be separately withdrawnand, if desired, returned again to the stock.

The compartments which correspond to the next angular phase of thecylinders rotation, or those adjacent the cylinder surface which isfully submerged, are then connected with a suction conduit in which arelatively high vacuum is maintained and thereby become effective forlayin the stock upon the cylinder, as well as wit drawing the li uidtherefrom through the foraminous suri ace.

The compartments adjacent that portion of the cylinder surface emergingfrom the liquid are next connected to a third and separate suctionconduit which will further dry the stock, since it will not only extractfurther moisture therefrom but will draw a certain amount of air throughthe sheet and thereby further assist in drying the same.

Finally, as the stock approachesthe delivery point, herein representedby the doctor blade 17, the compartments immediately preceding the sameare subjected to fluid pressure so that the sheet is automaticallylifted from the surface and falls over the doctor blade.

To secure these results, we have provided a sleeve valve 77 (Fig. 4)which extends from without through the hollow journal 23 and within thevalve seat 47. The valve has the tapered shoulder 79 fittinga-corresponding tapered surface of the bearing seat, and has also theported end 81 which registers with the ported end of the valve seat 47which is.

also tapered to seat against a correspondingly formed surface on thevalve seat.

The outer flanged end of the valve is closed by the cap plate 83 whichis bolted thereto and the valve is held in fixed non-rotative positionby means of thelaterally extending lug 85 (see Figs. 2 and 3) which isjointed to the rod 87 anchored to the fixed bracket 89. The rod 87 isadjustable, however, so that the valve while held fixed may be adjustedwithin a limited range to different angular positions. i

In order to press the sleeve valve 77 yieldably against its seat, thecap plate 83 is engaged by a spring 91 which abuts against thestationary yoke 93 which spans the cap plate and the worm gear 25 and issecured atitsends to the studs 95, the latter supported by brackets 97which are fastened to the journal bearings 13. Each of the brackets 97has a series of openings so that the studs 95 may be set indifi'erentposition's to provide for different angular ad ustments of thevalve as efl'ected by the adjustment of the rod 87.

The interior of the sleeve valve is sub-divided into severalcompartments by means of longitudinal partition walls, each compartmenthaving a separate port opening at the ported end. These compartmentscomprise, first, a suction compartment 99 which communicates through thecap plate 83 with the suction conduit 101. At the opposite end ofthevalvethe compartment 99 opens through the port 103 see Fig. 4) and theported valve seat into those compartmentswhich are covered by the firstsubmerged portions of the cylinder surface.

Next in order is the main suction compartment 105 which communicateswith the main suction conduit 107 and opens through the port 109 and theported valve seat into those compartments at the bottom of the cylindercorresponding to the portions of the cylinder surface most deeplysubmerged.

Next in-order follows the suction compartment 111 connected with theseparate suction conduit 113 and communicating through a port at theported end ofv the valve and the ported valve seat with thosecompartments underlying that portion of the cylinder surface which isundergoing emergence from the liquid, as well as that portion which hasemerged and occupies a position at the top of the cylinder.

Finally, a separate pressure fluid compartment 115 is provided connectedto the conduit 117, the latter extending to a suitable source ofpressure fluid supply and communicating at the ported end of the valvethrough the port 119 and the ported valve seat with the cylindercompartment or compartments which are in immediate approach to thedoctor blade 17 The ported end of the valve is strengthened by a shortlongitudinal rib 120 which offers however no impediment to the freecirculation of fluid throughout the compartment 105.

The pressure fluid compartment 115 is connected through a small endpassage 121 with a pressure fluid space 123 (Fig. 1) formed between theend 49 of the hollow valve and the opposing end of the valve seat 47 soas to provide a balanced condition for the valve under the action of thefluid pressure in the compartment 115.

The angular relationslnp of the valve in its normal position ofadjustment to the different compartments and the action of the severalsuction conduits and the fluid pressure on successive cylindercompartments will 'be evident from Fig. 5 where the dotted lineindicates, by way of example, the level of the stock. Obviously,however, the level and the angular position of the valve may bevaciently rich in good fibre it may be returned to the stock.

As the cylinder surface becomes further submerged it becomes subjectedto the relatively high vacuum maintained through the valve compartment105, the fibre suspended in the relatively more dilute portions of thestock at the bottom of the tank are also drawn against the cylindersurface and the water removed through the suction conduit 107 anddiverted to, the Waste or white water outlet. As the cylinder surfacereaches or approaches the point of emergence, the sheet or Web formed onits surface is next subjected to the vacuum'maintained through the valvecom-. partment 111 and as it passes over the top of the cylindercontinues to be subjected to such suction which not only furtherextracts the liquid from the stock thereon, but the drying action isaccelerated by the air which is drawn into the compartments and passesout with the liquid through the separate suction 'conduit 113. Thevacuum or suction maintained through the valve compartment 111 willnormally be less than that maintained through the compartment 105 sincethe suctionof the air through the stock will lower the vacuum. Beforethe stock approaches the doctor blade it will. have had the liquid quiteeffectively removed from it and thedry cake or sheet Will then beautomatically lifted from the surface of, the cylinder by the fluidpressure which is applied beneath the same through the compartment orcompartments just preceding its approach to the doctor blade, thistaking place through the pressure compartment 115 of the valve and thevalve port 119.

In referring to theradial compartments of the drum head and their radialarrangement, there is implied merely their general convergingrelationship toward the axis of the drum head since it is obviouslynotessential that there be any geometrically exact radial form orrelationship for such compartments.

, While we have herein disclosed and described for the purposes ofillustration one tions may be made from the form, relation-- ship andmechanical construction of the parts herein disclosed, all Withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof. Claims:

I 1. In a machine of the class described, a cylinder having a foraminoussurface and provided with interior partitioned compartments extendinglengthwise the same'and arranged in series circumferentially about theperiphery of the cylinder and covered by the foraminous surface thereof,means for rotating the cylinder partly submerged in relation to a supplyof stock carried in liquid suspension, a source of pressure fluidsupply, separate suction conduits, and a valve through which saidcompartments by the rotation of the cylinder are separately connected tothe. source of pressure fluid supply and the suction conduits, thecompartments corresponding to the cylinder surface when first submergedbeing connected to one suction conduit, those corresponding to the fullysubmerged cylinder surface being connected to a second suction conduit,those corresponding to the cylinder surface immediately followingemergence being connected-to a third suction conduit, and thosepreceding the last named compartments being connected to the sourceoffluid pressure supply.

In a machine of the class described, a

cylinder having a foraminous surface and provided with interiorpartitioned compartments extending lengthwise the same and arranged inseries circumferentially about the periphery of the cylinder and coveredby the foraminous surface thereof, means for rotating the cylinderpartly submerged in relation to a supply of stock carried in liquidsuspension, a source of pressure fluid supply, separate suctionconduits, and a.valve through which said compartments by the rotation ofthe cylinder are separately connected to the source of pressure fluidsupply and the suction conduits, the compartments corresponding to thefully submerged c'ylinder surface being connected to one suctionconduit, the preceding compartments corresponding to the cylindersurface immediately following emergence being connected connected to thesource of fluid pressure supply. a

3. In a machine of the class described, a cylinder having a foraminoussurface and provided with interior partitioned compartments extendinglengthwise the same and arranged in series circumferentially about theperiphery of the cylinder and covered by the foraminous surface thereof,means for rotating the cylinder partly submerged in relation to a supplyof stock carried in liquid suspension,'a source of pressu're fluidsupply, separate suction conduits, and a valve through which saidcompartments by the rotation of the cylinder are separately connected tothe source of pressure fluid supply and the suction conduits, thecompartments corresponding to the first submerged portion the cylindersurface being connected to one suction conduit, corresponding to thecylinder surface immediately following emergence being connected to aseparate suction conduit, and the preceding compartments followingemergence and prior to submergence being connected to the source ofpressure fluid supply.

4. In a machine of the class described, a cylinder having .a foraminoussurface and provided with int-eriorpartitioned compartments extendinglengthwise the same and arranged in series circumferentially about theperiphery of the cylinder and covered by the foraminous surface thereof,means for rotating the cylinder partly submerged in relation to a supplyof stock carried in liquid suspension, separate suction conduits, and avalve. through which said compartments by the rotation of the cylinderare separatelyconnected to the suction conduits, the com- 5 partmentscorresponding to the cylinder surface when first submerged beingconnected to one suction conduit, thosecorresponding to the fullysubmerged cylinder surface being connected to a second suction conduitand.

0 those corresponding to the cylinder surface immediately followingemergence being connected to a third suction conduit.

5. .In a machine of the class described, a cylinder having a foraminoussurface and provided with interior partitioned compartments extendinglengthwise the same and arranged in series circumferentially about theperiphery of the cylinder and covered by the foraminous surface thereof,means for rotating the cylinder partly submergedin relation to a supplyof stock carried in liquid suspension, separate suction conduits, and avalve through which said compartments by the rotation of the cylinderare separately connected to the suction conduits, the com partmentscorresponding to the cylinder surface when first submerged beingconnected to one suction conduit and those corresponding to the fullysubmerged cylinder surface being connected to a second and separatesuction conduit. 6. In a machine of the class described, a

suction cylinder having a hollow journal and a foraminous surface, thecylinder being pro-' vided with a series of radially arrangedcompartments formed between inner and outer head walls of the cylinderand localized at an end of the cylinder, said compartments opening attheir outer ends each into a relatively shallow compartment extendinglengthwise the cylinder and covered by the foraminous'surface of thecylinder, the inner ends of the radially arranged compartments beingclosed by a ported wall, a sleeve valve extending through the hollowjournal of the the compartments cylinder and controlling the suction onsaid thereof, a stock tank in which the cylinder is partly submerged, ahead contained at the end of the cylinder comprising end plates andradial partitions providing aseries of partitioned fluid compartmentscommunicating respectively near the periphery of the cylinder with thelongitudinal compartments and converging between said end plates towardthe axis of the cylinder, a ported sleeve closing the bottom of saidcompartments, and a stationary sleeve valve extending through the hollowjournal of the cylinder and partitioned to provide a plurality of fluidcompartments adapted to be opened and closed with relation to saidported cylinder compartments and pressure fluid and suctionoonnectionsfor said valve.

8. In a machine of the class described, a suction cylinder having ahollow journal and a foraminous surface and having a plurality ofcompartments extendin lengthwise the same, a stock tank in which thecylinder is partly submerged, a stationary hollow sleeve valve havinglongitudinal partitions sub-dividing it into a plurality of compartmentsand extending through the hollow journal of the cylinder, and a portedvalve seat within the cylinder related to port openings in said valvewhereby the cylinder compartments are connected in successionrespectively to the compartments in said valve.

9. In a machine of the class described, a suction cylinder having ahollow journal and a foraminous surface and having a plurality ofcompartments extending lengthwise the same, a sleeve having a taperedseat with peripheral ports connected with said compartments, astationary hollow valve hav ng longitudinal partitions sub-dividing 1t w1th a plurality of compartments extending through the hollow journal ofthe cylinder and having a ta ered end seating against the tapered porteds openings said valve having a comflpartment connected to a source ofpressure, ind supply, and one or more compartments with connections tosuction conduits, said comparteeve and provided with port ments beingopened to the cylinder compartments in succession through cylinderrotates.

10. In a machine of the class described, a suction cylinder having acentrally arranged said ports as the opening at one end, a foraminoussurface, a plurality of compartments extending lengthwise the cylinder,a drum head with radial compartments communicating with saidlongitudinal compartments, a tapered valve seat carried by said drumhead, a partitioned sleeve valve extending through said centrallyarranged opening and having a tapered end seating against said taperedvalve seat, and means outside the cylinder to yieldably press the valveto its seat.

11. In a machine. of the class described, a suction cylinder having acircumferential series of liquid extracting compartments-extendinglengthwise the same, a drum head carrying radially arrangedcompartments, the outer ends of which communicate respectively with saidlongitudinal compartments, said drum head being formed between inner andouter head walls, a hollow valve extending through the journal of saidcylinder, a hollow ported valve seat surrounding the valve and carriedby said drum head and providedwith ports communicating with saidradially arranged compartments, said valve having a closed endconfronting the inner wall of the drum head, means for pressing thevalve inwardly to its seat, a pressure fluid com artment within saidvalve, and means for alancing the pressure fluid applied to the closedend of the valve.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a suctioncylinder having at one end a head provided with inner and outer headwalls with radially arranged partitionsto provide suction compartments,of a hollow, sleeved, valve-seat carried by said head having taperedvalve seating walls and having port openings communicating with saidcompartments, and a hollow valve extending through the journal of thecylinder and into said valve-seat and having tapered Walls seatingtagainst the tapered walls of said valvesea 13. In a machineof the classdescribed, the combination with a suction cylinder having at one end ahead provided with inner and outer head walls with radially arrangedpartitions to provide suction compartments, of a hollow, sleeved,valve-seat carried by said head having tapered valve seating walls andhaving port openings communicating with said compartments, a hollowvalve extending through the journal of the cylinder and into saidvalve-seat and having tapered walls seat- 7 ing against the taperedwalls of said valveseat, and devices outside the cylinder to press thevalve to its seat.

14. In a machine of the class described, a suction cylinder having aforaminous surface and a plurality of compartments extending lengthwisethe same, a hollow tapered ported valve seat within and at one end ofthe cylinder, radial passages connecting the ports with saidlongitudinal compartments and a hollow stationary valve extendingthrough the end of said cylinder and having a tapered end seatedagainstthe tapered ported sleeve and a suction conduit connected to saidhollow valve.

15. In a machine of the class described, a suction cylinder having aforaminous surface and a plurality of compartments ex tending lengthwisethe same, a hollow journal extension at one end, an external journalbearing for said extension, a hollow ported stationary valve extendinginto said cylinder through said journal extension, passagescommunicating with said longitudinal compartments and controlled by saidvalve and means for angularly adjusting said valve.

16. In a machine of the class described, a suction cylinder having aforaminous surface and a plurality of compartments extendinglongitudinally the same, radial compartments at one end communicatingwith said longitudinal compartments and with a ported open-endeddistributing-space arranged centrally at one end of the cylinder, acoaxial distributing valve passing through the open end of the cylinderinto the distributing space and controlling the opening and closing ofthe radial compartments and a journal bearing for the cylinderindependent of said valve.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.

' HAROLD J. REED.

CLAUDE L. SPAFFORD.

